That Used To Be Us Book Reviews and Summary
Key Features
Pulitzer prize-winning, globally bestselling author of The World is Flat charts Americas fall from power and influence - and assesses its paths ahead
About the Book: That Used To Be Us
America has a huge problem.
They explain how the end of the cold war blinded the nation to the need to address these issues. They show how our history, when properly understood, provides the key to addressing them, and explain how the paralysis of our political system and the erosion of key American values have made it impossible for us to carry out the policies the country needs.
"As we were writing this book," Friedman and Mandelbaum explain, "we found that when we shared the title with people, they would often nod ruefully and ask: 'But does it have a happy ending?' Our answer is that we can write a happy ending, but it is up to the country--to all of us--to determine whether it is fiction or nonfiction. We need to study harder, save more, spend less, invest wisely, and get back to the formula that made us successful as a country in every previous historical turn. What we need is not novel or foreign, but values, priorities, and practices embedded in our history and culture, applied time and again to propel us forward as a country. That is all part of our past. That used to be us and can be again--if we will it."
"'That Used to Be Us' is an important contribution to an intensifying debate, and it deserves the widest possible attention. As American politics looks increasingly dysfunctional, Mr[.] Friedman and Mr[.] Mandelbaum show great courage in casting aside conventional assumptions. Few readers will agree with every observation and argument in this thoroughly researched and passionately argued book, but all of them should find 'That Used to Be Us' compelling, engaging and enlightening."
"Friedman and Mandelbaum are men of the American elite, and they write to salute those members of the American elite who behave public-spiritedly and to scourge those who do not. They are winners, writing to urge other winners to have more of a care for their fellow citizens who are not winners. And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that! American society has had a big serving of that ugly anti-elitist spirit in the recent past. It could use more of the generous responsible spirit Friedman and Mandelbaum recommend."
"This is a book of exceptional importance, written on a sweeping scale with remarkable clarity by two of our most gifted thinkers. A soon-to-be best seller, it should be read by policymakers and every American concerned about our country's future.
About the Authors: Thomas L Friedman, Michael Mandelbaum
Thomas L. Friedman is a three-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for his work with The New York Times.
Michael Mandelbaum is director of the American Foreign Policy program at Johns Hopkins.
Reviews
"Thomas Friedman is a one-man think tank"- The Times
"Friedman has unequalled access to the people and situations that currently drive history. Truly amazing. An essential read"- A C Grayling, Independent on Sunday
BookDetails:
Book:That Used To Be Us
Author:Thomas L Friedman Michael Mandelbaum
ISBN:0349000093
ISBN-13:9780349000091
Binding:Paperback
Publishing Date: 2012-06
Publisher: Abacus
Number of Pages: 400
Language: English
Pulitzer prize-winning, globally bestselling author of The World is Flat charts Americas fall from power and influence - and assesses its paths ahead
About the Book: That Used To Be Us
America has a huge problem.
They explain how the end of the cold war blinded the nation to the need to address these issues. They show how our history, when properly understood, provides the key to addressing them, and explain how the paralysis of our political system and the erosion of key American values have made it impossible for us to carry out the policies the country needs.
"As we were writing this book," Friedman and Mandelbaum explain, "we found that when we shared the title with people, they would often nod ruefully and ask: 'But does it have a happy ending?' Our answer is that we can write a happy ending, but it is up to the country--to all of us--to determine whether it is fiction or nonfiction. We need to study harder, save more, spend less, invest wisely, and get back to the formula that made us successful as a country in every previous historical turn. What we need is not novel or foreign, but values, priorities, and practices embedded in our history and culture, applied time and again to propel us forward as a country. That is all part of our past. That used to be us and can be again--if we will it."
"'That Used to Be Us' is an important contribution to an intensifying debate, and it deserves the widest possible attention. As American politics looks increasingly dysfunctional, Mr[.] Friedman and Mr[.] Mandelbaum show great courage in casting aside conventional assumptions. Few readers will agree with every observation and argument in this thoroughly researched and passionately argued book, but all of them should find 'That Used to Be Us' compelling, engaging and enlightening."
"Friedman and Mandelbaum are men of the American elite, and they write to salute those members of the American elite who behave public-spiritedly and to scourge those who do not. They are winners, writing to urge other winners to have more of a care for their fellow citizens who are not winners. And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that! American society has had a big serving of that ugly anti-elitist spirit in the recent past. It could use more of the generous responsible spirit Friedman and Mandelbaum recommend."
"This is a book of exceptional importance, written on a sweeping scale with remarkable clarity by two of our most gifted thinkers. A soon-to-be best seller, it should be read by policymakers and every American concerned about our country's future.
About the Authors: Thomas L Friedman, Michael Mandelbaum
Thomas L. Friedman is a three-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for his work with The New York Times.
Michael Mandelbaum is director of the American Foreign Policy program at Johns Hopkins.
Reviews
"Thomas Friedman is a one-man think tank"- The Times
"Friedman has unequalled access to the people and situations that currently drive history. Truly amazing. An essential read"- A C Grayling, Independent on Sunday
BookDetails:
Book:That Used To Be Us
Author:Thomas L Friedman Michael Mandelbaum
ISBN:0349000093
ISBN-13:9780349000091
Binding:Paperback
Publishing Date: 2012-06
Publisher: Abacus
Number of Pages: 400
Language: English
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